Nanostructure coated with a twist-strained double-stranded circular deoxyribonucleic|acid (dna), method for making and use

Abstract

A SWCNT coated with a twist-strained double-stranded circular deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is provided, together with methods for preparing the coated SWCNT, for removing the DNA coating from the SWCNT, and for sorting SWCNTs using the DNA coating.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A nanostructure coated with a twist-strained double-stranded circular deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). 
     
     
         25 . The nanostructure of  claim 24 , wherein the nanostructure is a carbon nanostructure. 
     
     
         26 . The nanostructure according to  claim 25 , which is a single wall carbon nanotube. 
     
     
         27 . The nanostructure according to  claim 26 , which is 100-700 nanometers in length. 
     
     
         28 . A method for
 (I) coating a nanostructure with a twist-strained double-stranded circular DNA, comprising incubating a nanostructure with a relaxed double-stranded circular DNA under conditions promoting a change in topology of said DNA to twist-strained double-stranded circular DNA, to thereby coat the nanostructure;   (II) removing a twist-strained double-stranded circular DNA from a nanostructure coated with twist-strained double-stranded circular DNA, comprising incubating said nanostructure under conditions to relax the twist-strained double-stranded circular DNA; or   (III) sorting nanostructures by size, comprising separating nanostructures that are coated with twist-strained double-stranded circular DNA.   
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein in (I) said conditions comprise the presence of divalent cations. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein said conditions comprise the presence of Mg 2+ . 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 30 , wherein said conditions comprise a Mg 2+  concentration of about 60 to about 80 mM. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein in (I) said conditions comprise a temperature of about 0 degrees centigrade to about 10 degrees centigrade. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 28  which further comprises in (I) separating a nanostructure that is coated with twist-strained double-stranded circular DNA from free DNA. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 28  which further comprises in (I) separating a nanostructures that is coated with twist-strained double-stranded circular DNA from uncoated nanostructures. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 28 , which in (II) comprises reducing the concentration of divalent cations. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 35 , wherein the conditions comprise a Mg 2+  concentration of less than about 30 mM. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 28 , which in (II) comprises increasing the temperature. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein the temperature is increased to about 45 degrees centigrade or higher. 
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 28 , which in (III) comprises sorting nanostructures which are 100-700 nm in length. 
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 28  wherein the nanostructure is a carbon nanostructure. 
     
     
         41 . A method for:
 (I) treatment of the human or animal body by surgery or therapy or diagnosis practised on the human or animal body, using a nanostructure coated with a twist-strained double-stranded circular DNA;   (II) delivering a diagnostic or therapeutic agent, using a nanostructure coated with a twist-strained double-stranded circular DNA;   (III) delivering a therapeutic agent to a subject in need thereof comprising administering an effective amount of said therapeutic agent by delivery of a nanostructure coated with a double-stranded circular DNA; and   (IV) using a nanostructure coated with a twist strained double-stranded circular DNA in a chemical or biological sensor, a solar cell, photovoltaic device, battery, ultra-capacitor, or in a microelectromechanical system, nanoelectromechanical system or in a nanoelectronic device.